Month: April 2026

By Michael Guise

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    WELLSTON, Ohio (KDKA) — A 17-year-old driver was intoxicated when his vehicle rear-ended a golf cart, killing an off-duty police officer last year, authorities in Ohio said.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a news release on Tuesday that the 17-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of aggravated vehicular assault, one count of vehicular assault, and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Jackson County Juvenile Court.

Officer Matthew Juniper with the Wellston Police Department was killed in the crash on Aug. 30, 2025. Yost said the teen was intoxicated and driving a Hyundai Accent when he rear-ended a golf cart traveling southbound on South Pennsylvania Avenue near the intersection of Sixth Street in Wellston around 2 a.m.

Juniper was a passenger in the golf cart and was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. The driver of the golf cart, also a Wellston police officer, was seriously injured in the crash, Yost said.

Juniper, who joined the Wellston Police Department in 2021, was remembered as “truly one of a kind.”

“Matt was truly one of a kind, everything you would want in a police officer and more,” a Facebook post from the department said after his death. “Compassionate and fair, hard-working and dedicated to his craft, fun to work with and a joy to be around.”

The 17-year-old boy reportedly sustained minor injuries.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Colter Anstaett

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    HAMPTON, Virginia (WTKR) — Family members of the 1-year-old boy who died Thursday after a DUI crash in Hampton early Monday morning tell WTKR News 3 the 14-year-old driver is the child’s mother.

Family members say the baby boy’s name was Ma’Khai. News 3 is choosing not to identify the teen.

“I’ve been in his life since day 1. This is the hardest,” Ma’Khai’s grandmother, April Logan, said.

Friday afternoon, News 3 Hampton reporter Colter Anstaett spoke with Ma’Khai’s family members, including his paternal grandmother and godparents.

Family videos shared with News 3 show Ma’Khai enjoying life. Friday, just shy of his second birthday, the videos were some of the precious memories his family was clinging to as they tried to cope with an unimaginable tragedy.

They said Ma’Khai would have turned 2 on April 4.

Logan tells News 3 her 17-year-old son is Ma’Khai’s father. While she’s angry, she said she can’t hate Ma’Khai’s mother.

“The Lord, my spirit, won’t let me. My spirit won’t let me,” said Logan.

According to Virginia State Police, Ma’Khai’s mother was not wearing a seatbelt and did not have the child properly restrained when she crashed on I-64 in Hampton near the 261 mile marker.

Both were seriously injured in the crash, according to VSP. As of Friday, Ma’Khai’s mother was charged with driving under the influence, driving without a license and a child restraint violation, with other charges pending.

Family members said they did not know where she got the car and, as of Friday, VSP had not clarified what Ma’Khai’s mother was accused of being under the influence of.

Ma’Khai’s godfather, Donte Walls, had a message for young people.

“Be more responsible,” he said. “Stop trying to outgrow your age and just be your age. There’s nothing wrong with being a teenager. Stop thinking that you’re grown.”

As of Friday, the crash remains under investigation.

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By Jamal Goss

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — As NASA prepares for its next mission to the moon, one Atlanta university is drawing attention for its growing role in space exploration.

The Georgia Institute of Technology says it has produced 14 astronauts, tied for the second most among public universities in the country, with alumni flying on dozens of missions and logging hundreds of millions of miles in space.

But leaders at the university say its impact goes far beyond the astronauts themselves.

Inside labs on campus, researchers and students are working on projects connected to the International Space Station and future missions to the moon, including technology already being tested in orbit. “Students actually build spacecraft hardware, operate it when it’s in orbit around the moon,” said Jud Ready, executive director of Georgia Tech’s Space Research Institute.

Ready says that hands-on experience allows students to work with the same types of systems used in real missions, helping prepare the next generation of engineers and scientists.

That work builds on decades of contributions to the U.S. space program.

Former NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, a Georgia Tech graduate, said the university’s reach extends across nearly every part of space operations.

“It’s not just the astronauts, the engineering behind it, the scientists,” Kimbrough said. “A lot of those came from Georgia Tech that are part of the space program.”

As NASA moves forward with its Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the moon and eventually traveling farther into space, Kimbrough says the moment represents a major step forward.

The work being done at Georgia Tech, Ready added, is part of that future.

Research tied to the International Space Station is already underway, and additional technology developed in Georgia is expected to head to the moon later this year.

University leaders say that momentum could help inspire a new generation, one that doesn’t just watch space exploration, but helps lead it.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Levan Reid, Matt Schooley

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had his head shaved Tuesday during an event that raised more than $4.1 million for cancer research at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Maye got the new look during the annual Saving by Shaving event in Quincy. Telecommunication company Granite donated $2,500 for every eight inches of hair that was cut.

“Just to be able to give back, that’s what it’s about. It’s bigger than football. Just glad I could be a part of it, and such a great event to be able to go out there and be able to spread some awareness,” Maye said.

When the quarterback stepped up for his turn, his wife Ann Michael Maye began the buzz, though she said she was a bit nervous.

“I cut my grandma’s hair one time and it looked so horrible. It was during COVID, and she really needed a haircut so I gave her a haircut, and it looked so bad. So we’ll see how this goes,” she said.

Ann Michael let a professional take over to finish the job.

It was the latest charitable endeavor for the Mayes. Last week, the couple launched the MayeDay Family Foundation. The nonprofit aims to help children and families in need.

“Yeah, we’re excited. It’s the early stages. So we’re excited just what it can become. For us to give back to this area and back home [in North Carolina] it just means so much to us. Look forward to doing it together, that’s the best part,” the quarterback said.

“I think that’s one of our favorite parts, just getting more plugged into the community. Obviously, it’s more than football. There’s so many great people, great things here and we want to get more plugged in,” Ann Michael Maye added.

On the field, Maye struggled toward the end of the season after an MVP runner-up campaign as the Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl. He also was dealing with a shoulder injury, but Tuesday said there is no need for Patriots fans to be alarmed.

“Shoulder’s feeling good, feeling great. Just having some time off, being able to get back into throwing and lifting, feels great. Shouldn’t be an issue,” Maye said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By JT Moodee Lockman

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A quadruple amputee and professional cornhole player has been extradited from Virginia to Maryland to face murder charges for an alleged deadly shooting, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

Dayton James Webber, 27, was arrested in Charlottesville, Virginia, in late March after a man — Bradick Michael Wells, 27, of Waldorf — was found dead in Charlotte Hall, officials said.

Webber waived his extradition hearing last week during a virtual hearing he attended from Charlottesville.

“I’m trying to go back to Maryland,” Webber said at the time.

Extradited to Charles County

On Tuesday, Webber was transported from the Albemarle County Detention Center in Virginia to the Charles County Detention Center in Maryland, Sheriff’s officials said.

He is being held pending a bail review hearing, which will be conducted remotely.

Officials said “appropriate accommodations will be provided in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),” due to Webber’s specific medical and mobility needs. They declined to further explain what changes will be made.

“The Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) understands that the unusual circumstances of this case generate many questions about how certain procedures are adapted and how provisions of the ADA are specifically met,” officials said. “However, the CCSO will not provide additional information regarding booking processes, housing, equipment, or techniques beyond what is described.”

Quadruple amputee charged with murder

Webber is facing charges of first- and second-degree murder in connection with the death of Wells, police said.

Wells’ body was found after two people flagged down deputies, saying they had witnessed a deadly shooting.

The witnesses said they were in the back seat of a car when the driver, whom they identified as Webber, allegedly shot and killed the passenger in the front seat during an argument, according to charging documents.

The witnesses refused to help Webber pull the victim out of the car, and instead left the scene while Webber fled with the victim in the car, charging documents allege.

Nearly two hours later, a neighbor reported a body in a yard about 15 miles from where the alleged shooting occurred.

Alexander Goodman, Webber’s attorney, has declined to comment.

Cornhole player and quadruple amputee

The charges against Webber have garnered attention across the U.S.

The professional cornhole player became a quadruple amputee after contracting a bacterial infection that led to sepsis when he was 10 months old.

Webber competed with the American Cornhole League, but the organization said he has not been active since late 2024.

The ACL said it was aware of the allegations but declined to comment on the active legal situation.

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By Cheryl Fiandaca

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — The WBZ I-Team uncovered a police shooting that could have ended in tragedy. Boston Police officers opened fire through a closed apartment door, the bullets going into the wall of a five-year old’s bedroom. The woman says she was home alone and says she and her son could have been killed.

The 25-year-old did not want to be identified. “I thought I was going to die,” she said. “I thought I was going to die.”

Woman said she heard 4 or 5 gunshots

On February 14, 2026, she was in her Dorchester apartment alone folding clothes. At around 10 p.m. she heard banging on the door. The woman says, “I tried to look through the peephole, but it was blocked. So, I opened the door, and I saw five to six police officers, so I closed it again, I got scared and I locked it.”

Moments later, she heard gunshots and immediately thought she got shot. She told the I-Team she heard four or five shots, showing the holes in the wall and the door.

Boston Police officers fired several shots through the closed apartment door. The bullets went through the wall and into her son’s bedroom. The woman says, one of the bullets “hit the left window and the window shattered.” Showing the I-Team where her son’s TV usually is and his bed. She said, if he had been home, “he would have been dead.”

Todd McGhee is a former Massachusetts State Trooper and a security expert. He says there would be no reason to shoot through a closed door. “There is no reason to arbitrarily shoot through a door not knowing what’s fully on the other side like a 5-year-old or other occupants, does seem to some level of negligence,” McGhee said. “Law enforcement just doesn’t just show up at a residence and then start putting holes in the doors with bullets. That is absurd to me.”

“They pinned me down”

The woman said after the police shot though her door they broke it down. “I ran into my room, and they pinned me down they tased me. They said they were just doing a check, like a wellness check. I don’t know for who but I was alone… I was no threat to them I was no threat to them.”

She said after police tased her; she was taken to the hospital.

“If they were trying to bring her under arrest and there was a level of resistance, then using the Taser would have been the right level of force. Not firearms, not deploying lethal force,” McGhee said. “We need more information. I have never heard of anything like this.”

Dorchester police shooting under investigation

Boston Police told the I-Team the shooting is under investigation and refused our request for the body camera video. The department did provide a copy of the incident report that says police heard someone screaming in the apartment and were met at the door by a woman who had a knife. The report says she refused to drop the knife and that’s when officers discharged their firearms. It also says after the shooting she continued to refuse to drop the knife, and officers then used their Taser.

The woman denied having any kind of weapon, gun or knife.

The report makes no mention of shooting through the closed door or breaking it down to get inside, nor does it list a knife as evidence.

Days after the shooting, detectives came back to the apartment to dig the bullets out of the wall. The woman says detectives did want to talk to her, but she wants to speak to a lawyer first, calling the experience scary and a little sad since if her son had been home, she says he would have been killed.

She was not arrested or charged with any crime. Boston Police say the officers involved in the shooting are on administrative duty.

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By JT Moodee Lockman

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A Baltimore County pet crematorium owner was sentenced to 20 years in jail and ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution after he provided pet parents with sand and debris instead of ashes, according to the County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Rodney Ward pleaded guilty to theft and malicious destruction of property in February after he and his wife, Yalanda, were both charged in connection with a scam at Loving Care Pet Funeral and Cremation Services.

During Rodney Ward’s sentencing hearing, more than 60 victims spoke out, saying they received boxes of remains which turned out to be gravel, baking soda and debris, court officials said. Fifteen of the victims shared verbal impact statements, while another 40 shared written statements.

During the hearing, the judge called Rodney Ward “particularly cruel,” and said he caused “real pain” and utter betrayal.

WJZ has reached out to Rodney Ward’s attorney for comment.

Yalanda Ward’s trial is set to begin on May 6, 2026, court records show.

Fake pet crematorium scam

Through their unlicensed pet crematorium, located in Catonsville, the Wards collected about $13,000 from victims, according to court documents.

Investigators uncovered the alleged scam in April 2025, when the remains of 38 different animals were found in the back of a hearse in Baltimore.

During Rodney Ward’s trial, prosecutors said the material that was given to pet owners did not contain any animal remains.

A few of the samples contained human elements such as teeth and dental implants, prosecutors said. Most of the purported ashes contained “building materials,” like concrete powder, according to forensic anthropologist Dr. Rhys Williams.

Victims speak out during trial

During Rodney Ward’s trial, dozens of pet owners impacted by the alleged scam spoke out.

Sharon Thomas said she trusted Loving Care Pet Funeral with the remains of her 17-year-old service dog, Blackie Dior.

“He quoted scripture; he did all of this to make me feel comfortable. I would never think that he would be so demonic,” said Thomas.

Despite the investigation, court officials said some pet remains are still not accounted for.

“Why did you leave them on the side of the road? Why did you pack them in that hearse, and for the rest of us, where are our pets?” Nikki Pickens said during the trial.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.